Everton close to completing signing of forward for record fee

Everton are closing in on the signing of Watford winger Richarlison.

The 21-year-old Brazilian will become the Blues’ first signing of the summer after talks with the Hornets progressed today.

Marco Silva remained keen on being reunited with Richarlison at Everton having brought him to the Premier League last summer from Fluminense.

Watford paid around £11.5m for the attacker but look set to make a sizeable profit with the Blues in line to pay what could be a club record fee of at least £50million.

The fee for Richarlison represents a major gamble by Everton and a huge return on their investment for the Hornets.

Director of Football Marcel Brands is also an admirer of Richarlison and regretted not making a move for the young forward when at PSV Eindhoven.

But Silva is understood to have been the deciding factor in Richarlison pushing for a move to Goodison and Everton look set to wrap up his capture in the next 24 hours.